Salina Man Stopped To Aid Fatally Wounded Bicyclist

KSAL Staff - May 31, 2013 12:53 pm

Jerry Hurde of Salina was driving a truck for Salina Iron and Metal , headed for the Saline County Landfill with a load, when he noticed something out of the ordinary. He saw what appeared to be a bicycle in the ditch and stopped to help.

Jerry Hurde of Salina was driving a truck for Salina Iron and Metal Friday morning, headed for the Saline County Landfill with a load, when he noticed something out of the ordinary. He saw what appeared to be a bicycle in the ditch along West Crawford Street, west of Salina.

Hurde tells KSAL News that he initially thought that someone else hauling a load to the landfill may have lost it. But as he looked closer, he saw what appeared to be a body in the fetal position underneath the bike.

Hurde slammed on the brakes, got out, and ran over. He says that he waved at a couple of vehicles that were passing by as he ran to the scene, trying to get them to stop and help. They did not stop.

Hurde says that when he got to the bicycle, there was a badly injured woman underneath it. He lifted it off her, felt for a pulse, and tried to render aid.

Hurde again tried to wave over more passing vehicles to help. He says that three more passed before there were a couple of different people who stopped. One of them called 911 as Hurde and another person stayed with the woman until first responders arrived.

The woman ended up dying at Salina Regional Health Center. The Saline County Sheriff’s Office says that she had been hit by a vehicle, which then fled the scene. As of Friday afternoon that vehicle still had not been located.

Hurde says that this was his second trip to the landfill Friday morning. He previously saw a group of bicycle riders, and believes he may have saw the woman that he later found fatally injured.

Hurde says that it was an easy decision for him stop. He says “once I saw what appeared to be a person in a fetal position under the bicycle I knew I had to stop”. He adds that his only regret is that there was not a different outcome.

It’s not known exactly how long the woman had been lying injured in the ditch before Hurde came upon her. He adds “I’m sure that whoever did this was probably scared. But if they had stopped right then and gave her help who knows what would have happened.”

The Saline County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating the suspect vehicle. They did find broken parts at the scene. The suspect vehicle is believed to be a 2001 Chevrolet or GMC pickup truck. It might be a Tahoe, Silverado, or similar model. It will have damage to the passenger side front.

Anyone with any possible information is asked to contact the Saline County Sheriff’s Office at 785-826-6500.